Introduction
Cultural anthropology and translation seem to have very little in common; however, this is not entirely true. Both fields are dedicated to interpreting cultures and their heritage with the hard work of researchers and translators. They aim to understand backgrounds different from ours, thus bridging the gap between them.
The following essay will review “A Thick Translation of Hmong Oral Epics from the Perspective of Cultural Anthropology” to specify the similarities. This article focuses on translation, cultural anthropology, and, to some extent, ethnography. It follows the interpretation of the Miao people’s texts from China. Moreover, the text addresses some of the challenges associated with translating the texts and explaining the culture of this ethnic minority (Wu, 2022).
Article Summary
While the texts of the Miao people have been collected and translated into Chinese, some misinterpretations and errors have occurred. These errors are why Mark Bender, a professor with a Ph.D. in literature, and two sinologists, Ge Rong and Wu Yifang, created the Hmong-Chinese-English version of the texts. Wu Yifang is a native Miao speaker, which emphasizes the importance of her contribution (Wu, 2021). Throughout the book, Bender employs the thick translation method to incorporate parentheses with explanations and engage readers in the culture. Thus, they may have a better understanding of the source material.
While, as mentioned earlier, translation and cultural anthropology seem to have few similarities, they do not. Both review the source and the accepting cultures, emphasizing the value of further research (Wu, 2022). Moreover, the two fields focus on interpreting the unknown in different ways. Finally, translators and cultural anthropologists help us understand foreign cultures better. This may help eliminate certain biases and misconceptions that exist in society.
Article Criticism
I do not think the article was biased or underresearched. It provided a neutral approach to depicting the material reviewed. A significant amount of information undoubtedly explains many essential details and contextual facts. The article’s topic may initially seem unusual (Wu, 2022). However, detailed explanations of the similarities are provided, clearing all misconceptions. Thus, I find the correlation between translation and cultural anthropology very interesting for further research.
Conclusion
In summary, the cited article explores the connections and parallels between cultural anthropology and translation, which initially appear to share minimal common ground. However, context and detailed explanations of similarities are provided. The article is unbiased and thoroughly researched, providing contextual facts. The correlation between translation and cultural anthropology warrants a more thorough review.
Reference
Wu, F. (2022). A Thick Translation of Hmong Oral Epics from the Perspective of Cultural Anthropology. Randwick International of Social Science Journal, 3(1), 189-198.